In efforts to improve safety on one of Wisconsin’s busiest highways, the Wisconsin State Patrol this week partnered with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Police Department and Monona Police Department to conduct two aerial traffic enforcement details on US 12/18 (Beltline) in Dane County.
Wisconsin State Patrol airplanes on Monday and Wednesday were used in conjunction with ground vehicles to enforce speeding and aggressive driving laws on a segment of the Beltline near the Monona Drive interchange.
The operations resulted in a total of 67 traffic stops, including the following:
· Four 100 mph violations, including two motorcycles riding recklessly together
· Nine Flex Lane violations
· Two Operating While Under the Influence violations
· One hazardous material tanker driving 15 mph over the speed limit
· An average speed of 83 mph for traffic stops involving speeding
The speed limit on the Beltline is 55 mph and any conviction for traveling 25 mph over the legal speed limit results in a mandatory 15-day driver license suspension.
“The results of this recent enforcement effort make one thing clear – people need to slow down and drive safely,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “100 mile per hour speeds on the Beltline, or anywhere, are unacceptable. That type of driver behavior puts everyone else in danger and makes our roads less safe. Thank you to our Dane County law enforcement partners as we continue working together to make the Beltline safer for drivers.”
Wisconsin State Patrol and Dane County law enforcement partners will continue with Beltline enforcement efforts throughout the year, working to deter speeders and reckless drivers, while educating motorists about the law. These enforcements are typically publicly announced ahead of time. The goal is not to initiate traffic stops or make arrests, but to educate motorists about safe driving behaviors, gain voluntary compliance with Wisconsin traffic laws and make Wisconsin roads safer for everyone.
